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We're searching for answers to some of childhood's diseases, conditions and issues. In addition to our four research focus areas (Aboriginal Health, Brain and Behaviour, Chronic and Severe Diseases, Early Environment), you can also discover more about specific research we're involved in and the technology we use.

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An open letter to WA families

My colleagues and I at Perth's Telethon Kids Institute study how to make current vaccines work better, reduce common side effects, and develop new vaccines.

As scientists and doctors, we are certain that the Australian vaccination schedule offers the best protection for our kids. And yes, our children (13 between us) are all fully vaccinated.

Let's be clear -- the vast majority of West Australians (more than 90%) immunise their children to protect them from deadly and debilitating diseases. It's only a tiny percentage (less than 1.5%) who oppose vaccination and an even tinier percentage of people who are vocal anti-vaccination activists.

Our concern is for the group of parents who hesitate to immunise their children because they feel they cannot find the answers to their questions or concerns. They tell us they want to understand more about what's in the vaccines and the benefits compared to the small risk of side effects.

In our experience, these parents are not anti-vaccine -- they are caring parents who simply want information they can trust.

That's why on Monday night we opened up our doors for a free public seminar where all questions would be welcomed and answered on the basis of the latest scientific evidence.

Unfortunately, we had to cut that session short because we couldn't be heard over the abuse from people who were not interested in the answers.

The Telethon Kids Institute is here to serve the families of Western Australia.

If you have a genuine question about vaccination that you would like answered, then email us at vaccineinfo@telethonkids.org.au and we will do our best to answer.